Hamadan is the site of
the Median capital, Ecbatana, under Cyrus the Great in the 6th century BC. Little remains
now of the splendor that once characterized the ancient city, the palaces and fantastic
treasures having been plundered by successive conquerors including Alexander the Great .in
Hamadan, you may see the mausoleum of the persian philosopher and mathematician Abu Ali
Sina,known as Avesina,the 12th century Alavi Mausoleum with its outstanding dome , the
shrine Esther and Mordacai,an important site of jewish pilgrimage and the famous Stone
line of Hamadan. The construction of the famous statue is open to legend. One story has it
that it was carved following the return of Alexander the Great from Khorasan and was
erected either as a talisman to protect the city, or to commemorate his general,
Hephaestion, who died here.
